Believe it or not, there was a time in Montana when "going skiing" didn't involve $200 day passes or heated leather seats in a high-speed quad. It involved old Ford engines, a lot of wool, and a localized obsession with gravity that eventually birthed an entire industry.
If you ask a local where it all started, you'll get a few different answers depending on how they define a "resort." But the paper trail—and the surviving T-bars—point to one spot in the Little Belt Mountains.
The first ski resort in Montana is Showdown Montana, originally opened as King’s Hill in 1936.
It wasn't the only one trying to get off the ground in the late 30s. You had the Butte Ski Club tinkering with the "Beef Trail" and folks at Lookout Pass dragging car engines up the Idaho-Montana line. But Showdown is the one that stuck. It's the oldest continuously operating ski area in the state, and honestly, walking into that lodge today feels like a deliberate middle finger to the corporatization of the sport.
📖 Related: Map of the State of Arkansas: What Most People Get Wrong
The King of the Hill: 1936 and the Birth of Showdown
Back in 1936, the Great Falls Ski Club decided that hiking up a mountain just to slide down it once was a waste of perfectly good daylight. They set up shop at King’s Hill Pass.
At first, there weren't any lifts. You climbed. You skied. You repeated until your legs gave out. It wasn't until 1940 that a man named Charlie Bovey—a name you’ll see all over Montana history—donated the first rope tow.
Think about that for a second. There were no safety bars. No "loading carpet." You just grabbed a moving hemp rope and prayed it didn't rip your gloves off. If you fell, you fell. It was gritty, it was cold, and it was exactly what the locals wanted.
By the time the 1970s rolled around, the place underwent a bit of an identity crisis. George Willett and Ted Cogswell bought the place in '73. They met in a bar—which is how most good Montana businesses start—and decided "King’s Hill" was a bit too formal. They renamed it Showdown. Why? Because every time you point your skis downhill, it’s a showdown with gravity.
👉 See also: Seville Spain Weather 10 Day Forecast: What Most People Get Wrong
The Battle for "First" (Butte vs. Neihart)
History is rarely a straight line. While Showdown (King’s Hill) took the crown for longevity, the folks in Butte will tell you they were the real pioneers.
In 1938, the Butte Ski Club opened the Beef Trail. It was a volunteer effort through and through. Miners from the Anaconda Copper Mining Company used donated explosives to clear the runs. They powered their rope tow with a 1931 Model A Ford engine they nicknamed "Clarabelle."
- Showdown (King's Hill): Founded 1936. Still running.
- Lookout Pass: Founded 1935. (Technically straddles the Idaho line, so Montana purists often exclude it from the "First in Montana" title).
- Beef Trail: Founded 1938. Closed in 1988.
The Beef Trail was iconic because it brought skiing to the masses. It was cheap. It was close to town. But the "Chinook" winds—those warm Montana gusts that can melt a foot of snow in three hours—eventually did it in. Without modern snowmaking, the Beef Trail couldn't survive the warming winters of the 80s.
Showdown survived because of its elevation. Sitting at a base of 6,800 feet, it gets that dry, fluffy powder that bigger resorts like Big Sky charge a premium for.
Why the "First" Ski Resort Still Ranks Today
You might think a place that’s been around since the Great Depression would be a crumbling relic. It isn't. But it also isn't trying to be Vail.
There is a specific kind of "soul" at Showdown that you won't find at the mega-resorts. It’s owned by Katie Boedecker now, who took over from her father, George Willett. It remains one of the few family-owned mountains left in a world of corporate pass-holders.
The Terrain is Deceptive
Don't let the 1,400 feet of vertical fool you. Because the mountain isn't overcrowded, the "stash" stays fresh for days. You aren't fighting 5,000 people for a line through the trees.
No Artificial Snow
This is a big deal. Showdown is 100% natural snow. In a world of man-made "white ribbon of death" runs, there’s something authentic about only skiing what the clouds actually drop. It means the season is shorter, sure, but the quality of the snow is incomparable.
✨ Don't miss: Weather in Derby New York: What Most People Get Wrong
What Most People Get Wrong About Montana’s Ski History
Most tourists think Montana skiing starts and ends with Whitefish or Big Sky. Those places are great, don't get me wrong. But they were late to the party.
Big Mountain (now Whitefish) didn't really get its legs until 1947. Big Sky didn't even exist until Chet Huntley (the NBC news anchor) decided to build it in 1973.
The first ski resort in Montana wasn't a real estate play. It wasn't about selling condos or $18 cheeseburgers. It was about community clubs. These were non-profits where members paid a dollar a year in dues just to keep the "Clarabelle" engine running.
The 10th Mountain Division Influence
You can't talk about Montana's early ski scene without mentioning the soldiers returning from World War II. Many of them had trained with the 10th Mountain Division. They came back to Montana with surplus gear—wooden skis with "bear trap" bindings—and a refined technique. They turned these loose collections of rope tows into actual businesses.
Practical Tips for Visiting the Legend
If you're going to trek out to Neihart to see where it all began, there are a few things you should know. This isn't a "valet parking" kind of place.
- Check the Calendar: Showdown is often closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. They aren't joking about the "lifestyle" part of the business.
- The Lodge: It's the original vibe. Grab a beer, sit by the fire, and talk to someone wearing gear from 1994. They probably know the best tree lines.
- The Drive: You're going through the Kings Hill Pass. It’s beautiful, but it can be treacherous in a storm. Have good tires.
The reality is that Showdown Montana is more than just a trivia answer. It’s a living museum. While other historic hills like the Beef Trail or Mount Ellis (which served Bozeman before Bridger Bowl) have faded into the woods, Showdown remains.
It reminds us that the best part of skiing hasn't changed since 1936. It’s still just you, a pair of sticks, and a very long hill.
Next Steps for the History-Loving Skier
To truly appreciate the roots of the sport, your next move should be a visit to the Montana Ski Area Historical Society archives or, better yet, a trip to the Edith Hotel in Neihart. Recently renovated by the Showdown owners, it’s a way to immerse yourself in the local culture without the "resort" fluff. Plan your visit for a Wednesday or Thursday to catch the "locals-only" vibe and see if you can find the runs renamed in honor of the original 1936 backers.